The Rhode Island Indian Council hosted the 36th annual intertribal powwow over the weekend at City Park in Warwick. Native traditions were celebrated with vendors and dancers Saturday and Sunday. On both days dancers hosted a grand entry performance as well as a dance dedicated to veterans and family and friends of active military. Dancers were dressed in original regalia and even children got involved dancing around the fire in celebration. A powwow is a nationwide tradition where natives would gather for religious or social purposes. Darrell Waldron, executive director of the Rhode Island Indian Council, was pleased with the powwow and said that over the two days almost 300 people visited the powwow.

He did say that he had expected more vendors and dancers, but there was a “massive” powwow in Syracuse, New York that pulled some of them away. He said they received a lot of support from the neighborhood, and one couple even brought bags full of candy for the children.

“We just want to build good will and let people know that we are still around and practicing our culture,” he said.

In the next few years Waldron expects the powwow to continue to grow.